[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Mahābhārata and its versions](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata) › [The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) › 1.79 # The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 1.79: ekonāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ Mahābhārata 1.79 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### ekonāśītitamo'dhyāyaḥ ### [1.79.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.1) vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | jarāṃ prāpya yayātistu svapuraṃ prāpya caiva ha | putraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaṃ ca yadumityabravīdvacaḥ || 1 || > "Vaisampayana said, 'Yayati, then, overcome with decrepitude, returned to his capital and summoning his eldest son Yadu who was also the most accomplished, addressed him thus, 'Dear child, from the curse of Kavya called also Usanas, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have come over me. But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of youth. Do thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude. I shall enjoy with thy youth. And when a full thousand years will have elapsed, returning to thee thy youth, I shall take back my weakness with this decrepitude!' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.2) jarā valī ca māṃ tāta palitāni ca paryaguḥ | kāvyasyośanasaḥ śāpānna ca tṛpto'smi yauvane || 2 || ### [1.79.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.3) tvaṃ yado pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | yauvanena tvadīyena careyaṃ viṣayānaham || 3 || ### [1.79.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.4) pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punaste yauvanaṃ tvaham | dattvā svaṃ pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha || 4 || ### [1.79.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.5) yaduruvāca | sitaśmaśruśirā dīno jarayā śithilīkṛtaḥ | valīsaṃtatagātraśca durdarśo durbalaḥ kṛśaḥ || 5 || > "Yadu replied, 'There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepitude, in respect of drinking and eating. Therefore, O king, I shall not take thy decrepitude. This is, indeed, my determination. White hair on the head, cheerlessness and relaxation of the nerves, wrinkles all over the body, deformities, weakness of the limbs, emaciation, incapacity to work, defeat at the hands of friends and companions--these are the consequences of decrepitude. Therefore, O king, I desire not to take it. O king, thou hast many sons some of whom are dearer to thee. Thou art acquainted with the precepts of virtue. Ask some other son of thine to take thy decrepitude. > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.6) aśaktaḥ kāryakaraṇe paribhūtaḥ sa yauvanaiḥ | sahopajīvibhiścaiva tāṃ jarāṃ nābhikāmaye || 6 || ### [1.79.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.7) yayātiruvāca | yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmādarājyabhāktāta prajā te vai bhaviṣyati || 7 || > "Yayati replied, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son, but thou givest me not thy youth. Therefore, thy children shall never be kings.' And he continued, addressing another son of his, 'O Turvasu, take thou this weakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With thy youth, O son, I like to enjoy the pleasure of life. After the lapse of a full thousand years I shall give back to thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weakness and decrepitude.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.8) turvaso pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | yauvanena careyaṃ vai viṣayāṃstava putraka || 8 || ### [1.79.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.9) pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punardāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ caiva pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha || 9 || ### [1.79.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.10) turvasuruvāca | na kāmaye jarāṃ tāta kāmabhogapraṇāśinīm | balarūpāntakaraṇīṃ buddhiprāṇavināśinīm || 10 || > "Turvasu replied, 'I do not like decrepitude, O father, it takes away all appetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, intellect, and even life.' Yayati said to him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! But thou givest me not thy youth! Therefore, O Turvasu, thy race shall be extinct. Wretch, thou shall be the king of those whose practices and precepts are impure, amongst whom men of inferior blood procreate children upon women of blue blood, who live on meat, who are mean, who hesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practices are those of birds and beasts, who are sinful, and non-Aryan.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.11) yayātiruvāca | yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmātprajā samucchedaṃ turvaso tava yāsyati || 11 || ### [1.79.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.12) saṃkīrṇācāradharmeṣu pratilomacareṣu ca | piśitāśiṣu cāntyeṣu mūḍha rājā bhaviṣyasi || 12 || ### [1.79.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.13) gurudāraprasakteṣu tiryagyonigateṣu ca | paśudharmiṣu pāpeṣu mleccheṣu prabhaviṣyasi || 13 || ### [1.79.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.14) vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | evaṃ sa turvasuṃ śaptvā yayātiḥ sutamātmanaḥ | śarmiṣṭhāyāḥ sutaṃ druhyumidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 14 || > "Vaisampayana said, 'Yayati, having thus cursed his son Turvasu, then, addressed Sarmishtha's son Drahyu thus, 'O Drahyu, take thou for a thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal beauty and give me thy youth. When a thousand years have passed away, I shall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, and decrepitude.' To this Drahyu replied, 'O king, one that is decrepit can never enjoy elephants and cars and horses and women. Even his voice becometh hoarse. Therefore, I do not desire (to take) thy decrepitude.' Yayati said to him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! But thou refusest to give me thy youth. Therefore, thy most cherished desires shall never be fulfilled. Thou shalt be king only in name, of that region where there are no roads for (the passage of) horses and cars and elephants, and good vehicles, and asses, and goats and bullocks, and palanquins; where there is swimming only by rafts and floats.' Yayati next addressed Anu and said, 'O Anu, take my weakness and decrepitude. I shall with thy youth enjoy the pleasures of life for a thousand years.' To this Anu replied, 'Those that are decrepit always eat like children and are always impure. They cannot pour libations upon fire in proper times. Therefore, I do not like to take thy decrepitude.' Yayati said to him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, thou givest not thy youth. Thou findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shall overcome thee! And, O Anu, thy progeny also as soon as they attain to youth, shall die. And thou shalt also not be able to perform sacrifices before fire.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.15) druhyo tvaṃ pratipadyasva varṇarūpavināśinīm | jarāṃ varṣasahasraṃ me yauvanaṃ svaṃ dadasva ca || 15 || ### [1.79.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.16) pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu pratidāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ cādāsyāmi bhūyo'haṃ pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha || 16 || ### [1.79.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.17) druhyuruvāca | na gajaṃ na rathaṃ nāśvaṃ jīrṇo bhuṅkte na ca striyam | vāgbhaṅgaścāsya bhavati tajjarāṃ nābhikāmaye || 17 || ### [1.79.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.18) yayātiruvāca | yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmāddruhyo priyaḥ kāmo na te saṃpatsyate kvacit || 18 || ### [1.79.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.19) uḍupaplavasaṃtāro yatra nityaṃ bhaviṣyati | arājā bhojaśabdaṃ tvaṃ tatrāvāpsyasi sānvayaḥ || 19 || ### [1.79.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.20) ano tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | ekaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu careyaṃ yauvanena te || 20 || ### [1.79.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.21) anuruvāca | jīrṇaḥ śiśuvadādatte'kāle'nnamaśuciryathā | na juhoti ca kāle'gniṃ tāṃ jarāṃ nābhikāmaye || 21 || ### [1.79.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.22) yayātiruvāca | yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | jarādoṣastvayokto'yaṃ tasmāttvaṃ pratipatsyase || 22 || ### [1.79.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.23) prajāśca yauvanaprāptā vinaśiṣyantyano tava | agnipraskandanaparastvaṃ cāpyevaṃ bhaviṣyasi || 23 || ### [1.79.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.24) pūro tvaṃ me priyaḥ putrastvaṃ varīyānbhaviṣyasi | jarā valī ca me tāta palitāni ca paryaguḥ | kāvyasyośanasaḥ śāpānna ca tṛpto'smi yauvane || 24 || > "Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing him said, 'Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son! But thou shall be the first of all! Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me in consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not yet however, been satiated with my youth. O Puru, take thou this my weakness and decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy for some years the pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I shall give back to thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.25) pūro tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | kaṃcitkālaṃ careyaṃ vai viṣayānvayasā tava || 25 || ### [1.79.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.26) pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu pratidāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ caiva pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha || 26 || ### [1.79.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.27) vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca pūruḥ pitaramañjasā | yathāttha māṃ mahārāja tatkariṣyāmi te vacaḥ || 27 || > "Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with humility, 'I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me. I shall take, O king, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as thou listest the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and becoming old, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving thee my youth.' Yayati then said, 'O Puru, I have been gratified with thee. And being gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom shall have all their desires fulfilled.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ### [1.79.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.28) pratipatsyāmi te rājanpāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | gṛhāṇa yauvanaṃ mattaścara kāmānyathepsitān || 28 || ### [1.79.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.29) jarayāhaṃ praticchanno vayorūpadharastava | yauvanaṃ bhavate dattvā cariṣyāmi yathāttha mām || 29 || ### [1.79.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79.30) yayātiruvāca | pūro prīto'smi te vatsa prītaścedaṃ dadāmi te | sarvakāmasamṛddhā te prajā rājye bhaviṣyati || 30 || > "And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of Kavya, transferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled Puru.'" > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ## Translations (1) - [The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa~en-ganguli.1.84.2) — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English ## Commentaries (1) - [Bhāratabhāvadīpa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa!nilakantha.1.84.1) — Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara 1650, Sanskrit ## Other recensions (2) - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*southern.1.78.1) — Sanskrit - [Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.1.84.1) — Sanskrit ## Linked texts (1) - [Matsyapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.matsya.33.1) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.1.79) · Pramāṇa